Telephone system



April 21, 1931. R. F. STEHLIK ETAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed April 29. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l wm l HM E 5 F H. E M naz s r UF u mh HTZE.

April 21, 1931. R. F. STEHLIK ET AL TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed April 29. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imren nrs Huclnl Z1. Frank 5 EZLZik Marcel Lucian FYI EH1 April 21, 1931. R. F. STEHLIK ET AL TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed April 29, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R a 1%? 11 5 H1: 1 %:51 Lu i; F1 1J2 Patented Apr. 21, 1931' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPH FRANK S'IEHLIK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND MARCEL LUCIEN PITTEVIL, OF.

ANTWERP, BELGIUM, ASSIGNQRS TO ASSOCIATED TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH COM- PANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Application filed April 29, 1929, Serial No. 858,807, and in Belgium June 2, 1928.

The present invention relates to telephone systems and more particularly to paystations ofthe prepayment type for use in such systerns. The chief Object of the invention is the production of a paystation which shall be very compact but which shall at the same time includearrangeme'nts for preventing fraudulent use in any of the more obvious and well known manners.v With this object in View, itis arranged that the apparatus requires only a single push button which effects collection or refund of the deposited coin according to the position of the switchhook. Another feature is that the coin chute is arranged on a slope from one sideof the box to the other while all the apparatus including the box for collecting the coins is located within. a single casing. A' further feature for the prevention of fraudulent use is that the switchhook and push button are so interlocked thatthe operation of both simultaneously, while effecting refund of the inserted coin, will also'open the line circuit sufficiently long to release the connection.

The construction and manner of operation of a coin box. according to the present invention will be better appreciated from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1 shows a front elevation with a portion of the cover plate removed to indicatemore in detail the coin collecting and coin'refunding apparatus. .Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows details of the coin chute and springs in operatedposition, while Figs.

4 and 5 show details of the control arrangements for the collect guide.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the transmitter 13 is shown, mounted on the upper face of the casing 11, being secured to an angle piece 44 to which! is also secured on the inner side'of the upper surface, by means of bolts 43, the induction coil 35. The dial 12 is mounted on the front of thecasing. On

the left the coin slot 24 is shown in which a coin 50 is inserted when a subscriber desires to make a call and the receiver 14 is on the hook 15. The coin 5O slides down the coin chute 23 and comes to rest against the coin stop slide 29. The coin chute 23 is pivoted at 27 and normally held in the position shown Fig. 1 against a back stop 39 by means of a spring 25.

When the receiver is removed, the switch hook arm, also pivoted at 27, pivots and allows the projecting arm 31 rigidly secured to the end of the switch hook arm to press against the coin 50 and move the coin chute 23 against the tension of the spring 25. The lower end, of the coin chute is bent at substantially a right angle forming the collect guide portion 38, the detailed construction of which is seen from Figs. 4 and 5, to the lower end of which is attached the contact spring controlling member 37. With the coin chute in its normal position, the member 37 permits the spring 21 to short-circuit the impulse springs of the dial. If no coin is inserted in the slot the coin chute will not be operated when the receiver is removed, as the projecting arm 31 passes through a slot in the coin slide.

The coin stop slide 29 is operated by a spring controlled push-button 28 so that when push-button 28 is depressed the slide 29 is moved while the pressure on the coin 50 is released when the collect guide pin 30 engages the arm 53 of the collect guide 38, to allow it to pass through to the collect box 16. The coin chute is pivoted so that it swings in a U-shaped channel bar 26, which is securely attached to the side of the casing and forms the fixing'member for the elements of the coin box. Screws 42 secure the switch hook springs 33 operated by a stop 34 secured to the switch hook arm, to the upper side of the channel bar, the dial, transmitter and receiver springsbeing secured to the underside by means of screws 40. A shutter member 45 attached to the switch hook operates between the U-shaped channel bar and the casing to close the slot 24 when the switch hook arm 15 is operated. to prevent the withdrawal of an inserted coin.

The connections to the receiver and the transmitter are permanently wired up and lead out to terminal members 46 in the casing, so that the coin-box is a unit in itself. Connections to the line circuit are obtained through'the base plate 51 by means of contact 9 springs 47 which engage the terminals 46 and are attached to the base plate 51 by means of screws 49. Line leads are attached to the springs 47 at terminals 48. The collect box 16 is provided with an extended ring 54 so that it may be 'padlocked to the ring 19 on the casing, While the casing is adapted to be secured to the base plate 51 by means of a lock 18.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that when any adjustment or replacement of one or more of the elements is necessary, or when it is desired to remove the money from the collect box, the complete set is unlocked and removed from the base plate, without disturbing anyof the perma nentconnections.

It will also be appreciated that special precautions have been taken to prevent the maloperation of the coin-box.

This fact will be better understood by referring to Figs. 4 and '5. Fig. 4 shows the collect guide 38 in non-operated position,

and Fig. 5 shows it when a coin has been in-v serted and the receiver removed. The collect guide 38 is so arranged that the receiver hook 15 must be practically in normal position before the collect guide pin '30, secured to the push button, can pass under it. The coin 50 is pressed against the coin chute 23 by the projecting arm 31, unless, of course, the receiver hook is in normal position or the action of the pin 30 on the coin guide 38 shifts the coin chute to a lower level. An adjusting screw 32 is provided for varying the play of the projecting arm .31 to allow for different thicknesses of coins. The coin has necessarily tobe free to slide "in order that it may be collected or re-funded. If the calling party should endeavor to obtain a free connection by operatingth'e push button before the switch-hook has been fully restored, the collect guide pin 30 will ride above the arm 53 of the collect guide 38 and permit the coin.50 to drop to the collect'box 16. If, however, the switch hook is restored completely to normal before the push button 28 is depressed, the collect guide pin'30 will pass underneath the arm'53 ofthe collect guide 38 thereby permittin the coin 50 to drop into the refund chute 1 In this case the switchhook 15has to'be held in normal position so that the pressure on the coin 50 will be removed and the coin allowed to slide. The time interval during which the receiver hook is restored to normal and the push button is operated is suflicient to-maintai-n the line circuit open at springs 33 so that the circuit of the switches in the main train is open whereupon the switches release, and the connection has to be reestablished.

Having given a short description of the construction of the coin box its manner of operation will now be described.

The subscriber on desiring to make a call inserts a coin 50 in the slot 24. This coin slides down the coin chute 23 and'comes to rest against the coin stop slide 29. He then removes the receiver 14 and the switch hook,

arm 15 pivots at '27, firstly to close the slot 24 by means of the shutter 45 to prevent the withdrawal of the coin, secondly to close the line circuit at springs 33 due to the movement of the stop 34 and thirdly to cause the .coin chute .23 to pivot at 27 against the tension of the spring'25 through the intermediary of the projecting arm 31, engaging the upper side of the coin 50, which acts as a mechanical link between the arm 31 and the coin chute 23. The switch hook arm is held in its operated position under the tension of the spring 36, secured to the lower side of the U-shaped channel bar .26. The collect guide 38 of the coin chute 23 is therefore moved downwards causing the member 37 to remove the short circuit from "the dial of springs 21, short ci-rcuit thetransmittera-t springs 20, and shunt the receiver by .-a resist ance at springs'22. The circuit is now in a condition for calling the wanted subscriber.

It will first be assumed that the wanted party is idle. The calling part-y dials the required number and when he hears the response of the wanted party he operates the push button 28.- Collect guide pin .30 thereupon-engages the upper-side ofthe arm 53 0f the collect guide 38 thereby forcing the .coin chute -23 downwardsand releasing the pressure on the coin. At the same time thecoin stop slide 29 is moved to allow the coin to fall to the collect box 1 6. On the release of the push button 28', the coinchute 23 :is returned to normal position under the actiono-f the spring 25, whereupon the dial is again shorted at springs 21 and the transmitter and receiver springs 20 and 22 are opened. The circuit isnow in aicondition for the two parties to con-verse withone another. At the termination of the conversation the calling party replaces his receiver, whereupon the slot 24 is uncovered,,the springs 33 are returned to normal, and the coin box is in a condition to handle anothercal l.

It will now be assumed that .the wanted party is busy; The operations are the same as in the previous c'ase with the exception that when the calling party dials thewanted number he will receive a characteristic busy, tone, whereuponhe must replace his receiver. Replacing of the receiver opens the line circuit at springs 33 and as the projecting 31 is also returned to normal position the coin chute 23 will be allowed to return to normal under the action .of the spring 25 and the pressure on the coin will be released. It will be seen that the coin chute now registers with the refund chute 17, and the coinis only prevented from sliding, by'thecoin stop slide 29. The calling party now presses the push button 28., whereupon the coin stop slide 29 is moved and the coin is released to the refund chute 17 and the coin box is ready to handle another call.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that a coin box has been devised which is very simple and compact in construction, requires very little knowledge, effort or practice on the part of a calling subscriber for satisfactory operation, and can be very easily removed for replacement or adjustment of parts and for inspection, without disturbing any of the existing connections.

It will of course be appreciated that various detailed modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A telephone paystation of the prepayment type in which the coin slot is located at the side of the instrument while the refund slot is located on the opposite side so that a coin which is to be refunded slides through without any change of direction.

2. A telephone paystation of the prepayment type provided with a single push button the operation of which produces collection when the receiver is off and refund when the receiver is on in which the switch hook and push button are so interlocked that operation of both simultaneously will result in the switch hook springs maintaining the line circuit open for a time interval sufficient to effect the release of the connection.

3. A telephone paystation asclaimed in claim 1 in which the coin has to be inserted before the receiver is removed and the coin slot is located immediately above the switch hook.

4. A telephone paystation as claimed in claim 1 in which a sliding member adapted to cover the coin slot when the receiver is removed is rigidly attached to the switch hook.

5. In a telephone paystation of the prepayment type having a coin slot at the side of the instrument, a refund slot located on the opposite side, and an inclined coin chute registering with said slots so that an inserted coin slides through without change of direction.

6. In a telephone paystation of the prepayment type having a coin slot at the side of the instrument, a refund slot located on the opposite side, and a movable inclined coin chute for directing an inserted coin into said refund slot without change of direction.

7. In a telephone paystation of the prepayment type having a coin slot at the side of the instrument, a refund slot located on the opposite side, a collect receptacle inside said instrument adjacent said refund slot, and an inclined coin chute adapted to direct an inserted coin into said refund slot or said collect receptacle.

8. In a telephone paystation of the prepayment type, a coin slot at the side of the instrument, a refund slot located on the opposite side, a. collect receptacle inside said instrument adjacent said refund slot, and an inclined movable coin chute arranged to direct an inserted coin into said refund slot without change of direction or into said collect receptacle with change of direction.

9. In a telephone paystation having a movable switch hook, a movable coin chute arranged to direct an inserted coin into a collect receptacle, a coin stop on said chute, means responsive to the operation of said switch hook for moving said coin chute through the medium of said coin to a position opposite said collect receptacle, means responsive to the movement of said coin chute for disabling the transmitter of the telephone, and means for moving said coin stop to collect said coin and to restore said coin chute to render said transmitter effective.

10. In a telephone paystation having a movable switch hook, a movable coin chute arranged to direct an inserted coin into a collect receptacle or refund slot, a coin stop on said chute, means responsive to the operation of said switch hook for moving said coin chute through the medium of said coin to a position opposite said collect receptacle, said switch hook restored to normal to move said coin chute to a position opposite said refund slot if no telephone connection has been established, and means for moving said coin stop to permit said coin to enter said refund slot.

11. In an automatic telephone paystation having a movable switch hook, a movable coin chute arranged to direct an inserted coin into a refund slot or collect receptacle, a coin stop on said chute, means responsive to the operation of said switch hook for moving said coin chute through the medium of said coin to a position opposite said collect receptacle, means responsive to the movement of said coin chute for disabling the transmitter of the telephone and rendering the calling device effective to establish a telephone connection, means when said connection has been established for moving said coin stop and to release said coin chute to a position opposite said collect receptacle to collect said coin and to render said transmitter effective, means responsive to the movement of said switch hook to normal when no connection has been established for restoring said coin chute to a position opposite said refund slot, and means for moving said coin stop to refund said coin.

In testimony whereof we, the said RUDOLPH FRANK STEHLIK and Mancini LUGIEN PIT- TEVIL, have signed our names at Antwerp, Belgium, this 28th day of November, 1928.

RUDOLPH FRANK STEHLIK. MARCEL LUCIEN PITTEVIL. 

